Duff is a big miss for Rovers, says Souness

GRAEME SOUNESS has conceded Blackburn are missing the influence of Damien Duff but insists overall his squad are stronger than a year ago.

Rovers have struggled badly this season and a run of five consecutive league defeats has left them second-from-bottom of the Barclaycard Premiership.

Irish winger Duff left in the summer to join Chelsea while David Dunn went to Birmingham and Souness said their replacements have yet to match their standards.